Kandyan Period Frescoes
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Kandyan era frescoes are mural paintings created during the
Kingdom of Kandy The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the Sri Lanka, island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom ...
(1469–1815) in
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
, a time when kings gave a special place to arts and literature. As there was a political instability in Sri Lanka after the Anuradhapura Era, which lasted more than 500 years, kings didn't take much effort to build up the religious side of the people. Therefore, there were no monks with Upasampada and people didn't have much education about
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
. Therefore, at the beginning of Kandyan Kingdom, the monks got Upasampada, and started to preach Buddhism to people. As people didn't know many things, monks (Specially Sangaraja Maha Nahimi) advised the kings to paint the walls of the temples with Jataka Stories so that anyone could understand even without knowing how to read. This marked the beginning of
fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
es of the Kandyan Era.


Special features of Kandyan era frescoes

The walls of the Kandyan Era were built by clay which was stuck in between sticks. Then after they used Makulu Meti, a white colored clay, to smooth the walls in temples and palaces as it was only allowed for palaces and temples to build in white color at that time. The frescoes were drawn after dividing the wall of the image house into horizontal rows. After dividing, drawing the whole Jataka Story was started from right to left, then left to right in the next row (
Zigzag A zigzag is a pattern made up of small corners at variable angles, though constant within the zigzag, tracing a path between two parallel lines; it can be described as both jagged and fairly regular. In geometry, this pattern is described as a ...
) in Akhanda Kathana Kramaya khaṇḍa-kathana-kramayaor painting the whole story in fresco. To separate different scenes, the artists have drawn a tree, a river, or a house. The pictures of people were drawn in Parshawa Darshi Kramaya ārśava-darśī-kramaya or drawing the faces and legs facing to a side. The background of the frescoes were painted in a dark red color, and
flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...
s like Lotus, ''
Pandanus ''Pandanus'' is a genus of monocots with about 578 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. Common names include pandan, screw palm and screw pine. The genus is classified ...
'' flowers are used to fill the blanks. These frescoes were drawn in very fine lining.National Institute of Education, Grade 10 Art Syllabus. 2016


Flower patterns

The blanks of the Kandyan Frescoes have been filled with traditional flower patterns. Not only for filling blanks, these patterns have been used to decorate the Udu Viyan (Ceilings). As flowers, mainly lotus flowers are used. Instead of them, ''Pandanus'' flowers, Binara flowers, Beraliya flowers, Jasmine flowers have been used.


Paints

Almost all the paints which were used in Kandyan Frescoes were natural. Those were made up from trees, fruits, etc. mixed together with juices or oils. These were made by artists themselves.


Red color

Sadilingam, ''
Ixora ''Ixora'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is the only genus in the tribe ''Ixoreae''. It consists of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs and holds around 544 species. Though native to the tropical and subtropical areas ...
'' was mixed to get red color. Red color was also taken from red clay and rocks.


Yellow color

Yellow was made from mud limestone. Sometimes it was also made from '' Clusiaciae'' juice.


Blue color

Blue color was made from ''
Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...
''. Sometimes sea sand was heated and mixed with
Arrack Arrack is a Distillation, distilled alcoholic drink typically produced in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, made from the Fermentation (food), fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane, and also with grain (e.g. red rice) or fruit depending upon ...
to make black color.


Green color

This was made from mixing some blue powder with yellow color.


White color

White color was always taken by Makulu Meti, a white clay.


Golden color

Golden was made by mixing limestone and golden limestone in same amounts. Or else it was made by mixing limestone with milk of ''CLUSIACEAE'', mercury, white lead, Seenakkaran, and Salt.


Black color

Black color was made by mixing charcoal of coconut shells with Dorana Oil.


Brushes

Brushes was made by the artists themselves. A grass type called Theli was used for this. The hair from the tails of cats and squirrels, hair from downside of deer, horses and stags, beard of cats have been used for this. Even camel hair sometimes. These were tied to a handle and then used. Some popular artists have been offered from golden handles from king.


Plastering

First, if it is in a cave, then it is roughed and then plastered. This plastering was made by clay and hay. Then a layer of white clay is plastered. Then after clothes were pasted and then started to paint.


Dividing the wall

The wall was divided into horizontal rows in Kandyan Era Frescoes. A small space was left between two rows to write the story. Sometimes it was written in the fresco in a rectangle. The height of the row varies from 30" to 40" range in low country, while some upcountry temples have range of 5"–6". Then after the fresco was painted.


Themes

Jataka Stories and Episodes of the Lord Buddha's Life have been the major themes of Kandyan Frescoes. Other than them, Suvisi Vivarana or Bodhisattva Gautama getting blessings from 24 Previous Buddhas, Bodhisattva Gautama in Thusitha Heaven, first council of Arahaths,
Atamasthana Atamasthana () or Eight sacred places are a series of locations in Sri Lanka where the Buddha had visited during his three visits to the country. The sacred places are known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abh ...
(8 famous Buddhist Religious Places),
Solosmasthana Solosmasthana are 16 sacred places in Sri Lanka, believed by Buddhists to have been hallowed by visits of Gautama Buddha. These places of worship are among the most important religious locations in Sri Lanka, and are located throughout the country. ...
(16 famous Stupa and Buddhist Religious Places), Other
Bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, '' bodhi'' ('awakening', 'enlightenment') or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or ''bodhi'' in ...
, Thousand
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
s, and History of Sri Lanka and of the Buddhism of Sri Lanka (e.g.: War of Elara and
Dutugamunu Dutugamunu (, ), also known as Duṭṭhagāmaṇī Abhaya, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC. He is renowned for first uniting the whole island of Sri Lanka by defeating and overthrowing Elara, a Tamil kin ...
) have been themed. Actually the religious rise-up made the artists to draw mostly Buddhism Related Frescoes. And those flowers used to fill blanks are Traditional Flower Patterns.


Regional variations

As the whole country was ruled by the Kingdom of Kandy in early times, this influence of the Kandyan Frescoes was distributed in all over the country. But with the start of Portuguese,
Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...
, and
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
Eras, the
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
an Arts influenced the Kandyan Frescoes. As Portuguese and Dutch only ruled coastal areas, this influence can be seen very largely in coastal areas than upcountry areas. According to these changes Kandyan Frescoes can be divided into two as, # Up Country Kandyan Era Frescoes # Low Country Kandyan Era Frescoes


Temples which contain up country Kandyan era frescoes

#
Temple of the Tooth Sri Dalada Maligawa, commonly known in English as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the Royal Palace Complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of ...
# Degaldoruwa Temple # Madawala Tampita Viharaya # Gangarama Temple – Kandy # Ridi Temple – Kurunegala # Suriyagoda Temple # Theldeniya Bambaragala Viharaya # Nilagama Thissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya # Yapahuwa Rajamaha Viharaya # Gampola Lankathilaka Viharaya # Mahanuwara Gangaramaya # Matale Dambawa Rajamaha Viaharaya # Dehipagoda Agrabodhi Viharaya # Makulugaswewa Budugehinna Viharaya # Kundsale Viharaya # Isurumuni Rajamaha Viharaya # Dodanthale Viharaya are some temples with Up Country Kandyan Era Frescoes. These frescoes are very simple and anyone can easily understand the story. But there are Minor European Influences. For an example, the '
Demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, occultism, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in Media (communication), media including f ...
s' of the fresco of Mara Parajaya are holding European Guns.


Temples which contain low country Kandyan era frescoes

# Kathaluwa Viharaya # Subodharamaya – Karagampitiya, Dehiwala # Mulkirigala Temple # Walalgoda Temple # Samudragiri Temple # Kadolgalla Subdraramaya # Pathgama Rahularamaya # Kosgoda Ganegodalle Viharaya # Thotagamuwa Subadraramaya # Welihnida Sudarshanaramaya # Ambalangoda Sunandaramaya # Thelwaththe Aluth Pansala # South Kaluthara Duwe Pansala # Mihiripanne Ariyakara Viharaya # Hikkaduwe Jananandaramaya # Koggala Dewala Building # North Payagala Ethagama Sumananramaya # Bambarande Kurumbure Viharaya # Matara Walgama Kotikagoda Viharaya These are very complex and a bit hard to understand. Here there are many European influences. For an example, these frescoes contain ladies who wearing frocks and gentlemen who are wearing trousers, Western style houses, etc.


Artists of Kandyan era

It is believed that there were many artists in Kandyan Era. The variations of the style, not from temple to temple, but sometimes in the same temple. Artists who painted the marvelous Kandyan Frescoes are not much popular. Instead of their names, their
clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
s were popular. The more refined, detailed drawings with fine lines are often the work of the artists of 'Central School'. They received the direct patronage of the king. The simpler, less sophisticated drawings with thicker lines are often work of 'Provincial Schools' maintained by regional leaders and villagers.


Respect and patronage of the kings to an artist at Kandyan era

An artist was a person who was well respected in the society at Kandyan era. Kings also gave their patronage to artists. There is a folk story about an artist in Kandyan Era.
"One day, Devaragampola Silvath Thana, the chief artist who worked in Dambulla Renovations was on the
scaffolding Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other human-made structures. Scaffolds are widely u ...
, painting. Not able to go out to split out wad of
betel Betel (''Piper betle'') is a species of flowering plant in the pepper family Piperaceae, native to Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen, dioecious vine, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins. Betel plants are cultivated for their lea ...
he was chewing as he worked, he called out his henchman and handed it down to be thrown away. Then that person threw it out and came back, asked from the artist 'How long have you been up there to have chewed such a lot of betel?'. The artist tilted the flame and peered down as the voice was not that of his attending
henchman A henchman is a loyal employee, supporter, or aide to some powerful figure engaged in nefarious or criminal enterprises. Henchmen are typically relatively unimportant in the organisation: minions whose value lies primarily in their unquestioning ...
. It was the
king King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
..."A Folk Tale from Sri Lanka
This story shows how much the king respected artists at that time. So the respect of the society is clear. It is told that the artist is the only person who could ever bear the king's crown in Nethra Mangalya.


Popular artists of the Kandyan era

* Rev. Mawanelle Devaragampola Silvath Thana * Rev. Katuwana Thero * Rev. Waththawe Thero * Nilagama Patabandi Devendra Mulachari * Nikawewa Pahalawaththe Ukku Naide * Kumbepitiye Patabandi Vidanelage Naide * Wadugama Wijepala Muhandiramlage Neththa Naide * Deldeniya Hiththara Naide *Hiriyale Naide * Koswaththe Hiththara Naide * Ambulpure Muhandiram * Nilagama Bodhinarayana Chithrachariyage Ukku Naide * Bodhinarayana Chithracharayage Kapuru Naide * Patabandige Abharana Appu * Upasaka Gedara Kirihami * Delmadu Mulachari * Gampola Navarathna Patabandi * Yapahuwe Gannoruwe Muhandiram * Marukona Rathnabarana * Rideegama Menik Appu * Ambakke Deva Surendra Muhandiram * Kadolgalle Heemappu Maha Siththara * Devundara Andiris Siththare * Garanduwe Batuwita Siththare * Mangalathiriye Siriya Gurunnanse * Ahangama Dingiri Siththare * Kiriappu Ganinnanse * Devundara Punchappu Gurunnanse * Madiwaka Siththara Naide * Hathkorale Siththara Muhandiram * Nuwarakande Serugolle Hiththara Naide


Conservation

There are no recognizable action has taken to conserve these Kandyan Frescoes other than in the temples where department of archaeology has stepped in. In some temples, photographing these frescoes without permission have been prohibited. It seems that renovation, new construction and over painting, rather than
conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and manage ...
and preservation were the
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
n Tradition. It still is, expect where Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka has stepped in. The present day paintings at Dambulla Temple, have been done over about 2000 year old frescoes of Anuradhapura Era, in the 18th century. Now only a small piece of Anuradhapura Era Frescoes can be seen. But thanks to the archaeological department, conservation of these frescoes are up to a certain level.


Gallery

File:Vessanthara Jathaka, Sri Wanasinghe Viharaya.png, Vessanthara Jathaka, Sri Wanasinghe Viharaya File:Queen Maha Maya's Dream, Dambulla temple.png, Queen Maha Maya's Dream, Dambulla temple File:Sujatha milking the cow, Mahavehera Temple.png, Sujatha milking the cow, Mahavehera Temple File:A Detail at Upper shrine of Bududgehinna Viharaya.png, A Detail at Upper shrine of Bududgehinna Viharaya File:Vessnthara Jathaka, Budugehinna.png, Vessnthara Jathaka, Budugehinna File:Fish drawn along the water drip at Dambulla temple.png, Fish drawn along the water drip at Dambulla temple


See also

*
Kingdom of Kandy The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the Sri Lanka, island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom ...
*
Fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
*
Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka) The Department of Archaeology ('','' ) is a non-ministerial government department in Sri Lanka responsible for managing the archaeological heritage. History In 1868, seven years after the establishment of the Archaeological Survey of India, Gover ...


References


External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20161213060032/http://nie.lk/ebook/s10tim118.pdf * http://nie.lk/ebook/s11tim175.pdf * http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/sinhalaartists.html {{Kandyan period topics Culture of the Kingdom of Kandy Fresco paintings Sri Lankan art